Draft key



1 136545611 S. SIMONSON Jan. 3, 1928.

DRAFT KEY Filed Dec; 12, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1" h l I l l Jan. 3, 19 28.

S. SIMONSON DRAFT KEY Filed Dec. 12. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 d Q m. \N v m v C C rk C A C K v Q. m A w w fit) 7 turn, cutting a condition.

Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

,- UNITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE, 1

SIGVARD'SIMONSO'N, 0F HAMMOND, INDIANA;

DRAFT KEY.

Application filed December 12,1925. ,Serial No.74,964

The invention relates to draft keys for connecting a coupler butt with the draft rigging of a railroad car. a a

The primary object of the invention, gen erally stated, is to provide a draft key designed to replace therordinary type of key for taking up wear and restoring the rela tively movable parts to normal position}.

It is well" known that after prolonged use railroad car couplers becoineupset or shortened by impact, resulting in decrease in clearance between coupler horn and the buffing face of the striking casting, this, in down the normal draftgear travel and reducing the efiiciency thereof.

It is guite clearthat damage to the car and be the inevitable resultof th s The present method of remedying this is to apply a new couplen lading will it is with the above facts in view that I- much greaterlengthof time thanis ordinarily possible, this feature resultingfin a material saving in the upkeep. a I

A further object of the invention is to provide a draft key which is capable of use not only in connection withthe coupler shank but also in association witlrthe follower engaged draft rigging, changeable with and consequently adapted to replace a key of the ordinaryt-ype. I A still more specific object is the. provision of a key formed-of a plurality of sections and having-means for preventing relative movement of the section's when installed and in service, the key being, more; over, of such shape and construction as to advance the coupler, or the follower therefor, to compensate for the decrease in,the distance between the horn and bufiing face, it being then possible to insert shims'or the like rearwardly of the Coupler or follower to restore the draft gear travel to standard length.

Another object of the inventionis to pro.-

thereby, in certain types'of the key being readily interproper "ide a draft key which may be used without necessitating any alterations whatsoever in the already existing parts and which may be installed in a simple manner. 1

To the attainment of the foregoing and other objects and advantages, the invention may consist in the arrangement and combination of parts and the structural features to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompany-- ing drawings in which:

Figure 1 isa horizontal section through a draft gear, or portion thereof,- showmg a pair of the keys inquse, a portionof the coupler and the keys tliemselves being shown in plan,

' Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section,

the couplerand follower therefor being,

shown in side elevation, and a Figure 31s an end elevation of one of the keys showing the stop and retaining means thereon. 7 I

teferring to the drawings in detail, the numeral 1 designates the center sills of a railroad car secured at their ends to astriking casting 2 having the usual buliing face 3. The center sills are slotted in the usual manner for the accommodation of the cheek plates l "which are secured thereto and which are formed with elongated slots 5 and 6. The yoke 7 is located between the center sills and is provided with slots- 8 and 9 which register to a greater or less extent with the slots 5 and 6 respectively in the cheek plates. The coupler is indicated generally by the numeral 10 and includes a shank 11 located between the arms of the yoke, this shank being slotted at 12 as iS customary for the' accommodation of the. usual draft-key, not shown, which also ex tends through the slots 5 and 8 in the cheek plates and yokelarms respectively. Thefcoupler is'provided with the usual" horn 13 which should'be spaced a certain standard distance from the bufling face 3/ In'the particular draft rigging illustrated, there is shown a follower 14' which cooperates with the butt of the coupler shank and with whatever specific gear is provided, the draft gear not being illustrated as unnecessary to at understanding of the invention. This follower is slotted at 15 for the passage of a second draft key which also passes though the slots 6 and 9 in the cheek plates and yoke arms respectively. In devices of this character, it is 'known' thatafter .prov longed use the slots in the coupler may be come elongated and the butt may become upset or battered and consequently shortened so that when the parts are in a supposedly natural position there is really a decrease in the distance between the horn and the buff.- 1

ing face so that the draft gear does not have its full travel before the horn strikes the buliing face. Under ordinary circumstances it has been acommon practice, when this.

occurs, to remove and discard the coupler and replace it with a new one, the'cost of such installation being, of course, high.-.

In carrying out the present invention I provide substantially similar replacement keys designated generally by the numerals 16 and 16Hthe essential feature being the formation or provision of aforward offset where the key passes through the slot-in the coupler shank or in the follower, as the case may be. '-Obviously, it'would not be practicable to insert such a key if it were made as one integral body, for which reason I have shown it as formed of sections 17, 18 and 19 adapted to be successivelyinserted through the slots inthe cheek plates, yoke arms and the coupler shank or follower and to be subsequently connected whereby to prevent withdrawal or displacement. The section 17 is represented as formed with a forward extension 20 while the section 19 is shown as formed with acorresponding depression or recess 21. It is intended that, the distance between the edge of the recessed portion 21 and the edge of the extension 20 be substantially the same as the width of the end portions of the key, this distance furthermore corresponding to the width. of the ordinary keyto be replaced. The confronting edges 22 and 23 of theisections 17 and 19 are represented as straight or plane andpreferably parallel, and the section "18 fits between them.

For preventing longitudinal movement of the assembled key, use maybe made of col-v lars 24 arranged in embracing relation thereto,the outer edgesof'the sections 17 and 19 being preferably grooved at 25 for the reception of the collars. Relative movement of the sections is prevented as by means of pins 26 of staple-like form, these pins having their arms 27 engagingwithin mat ing'notches 28 in the confronting edges of the sections 17, 18 and 19, the ends of the 'armsbeinoupset, as indicated at 29, to prevent withdrawal.

Assuming that the coupler butt and the rear end of the slot have become battered so that the travel of the draft gear is decreased, instead of replacing the coupler, I withdraw or remove the ordinary keys which engage the coupler and the follower and which connect them with the remainder of the draft rigging. The sections 17 and 19 of the rear or follower engaging replacement key 16 are then inserted through the slots 6, 9 and 15 and moved apart to bring the extension 20 and recessed portion 21 into engagement with the opposite ends of the slot 15. This results in advancing the follower and the latter, being in engagement with the coupler butt, moves the coupler forwardly. When the sections 17 and l9are first inserted, the collars 24: are engaged thereon prior to the se aratine' of the sections so that the rooves I first, the former bearing'snugly against the forward ends of the slots 8 in the yoke-arms.

The forwardly offset port-ion 20 of the sec tion 17 is accommodated within the forward end of the slot 12 which has become elongated as the result of Wear. The recessed portion 21 of the section 19 bearssnugly" against the rear end of the slot 12. Quite naturally, this close or tight. engagement at the points mentioned is not accomplished until the sections 17 and 19 have been forced apart and the section 18 inserted between them. The detailed operation of placing the forward key in position and locking the sections thereof together is identically the same as ezrplained'in connection with the vrearor follower. engaging key 16 Obviously the collars 2 1 will act to prevent longitudinal shifting of the keys so that they must remain in proper position with the offset portion engaged through the slot in the coupler shank or follower, as the case'may be. Clearly the collars cannot become displaced until the securmg members 28 areremoved and the in- .termediate sections 18 of the keys withdrawn, a 7 positive interlock being thus attained.

When both keys have been placed in posi- I tion as above described and as illustrated, it is apparent that the follower and coupler willhave been advanced so as to be capable of having normal travel. As'the yokeis not advanced it is true that there will be an increase in the length of the. draft gear pocket defined between the follower and the rear end of the yoke. It is, however, a simple matter to restore this pocket to normal dimensions by interposing'shims or the like at the rear of the front follower" or possibly at some other point to compensate for the distance which the front follower has been.

moved forwardly by the employment of the keys. i i

As the result of employing replacement keys constructed in accordance with this invention it is evident that couplersmaybe used for a much greater length of time than is ordinarily I possible, there being conse- 'qu'ently a material saving in the cost of maintenance. While I have shown and described the preferred embodlment of the invention and certain specific structure, it should be understood that the disclosure is merely illus-' trative of the principle involved and that invention, I

1. In a draft rigging including slotted elements, a key passing through the slots for connectingthe elements, the key being formed with an offset intermediate portion received within the slot in one element for advancing said element with respect to the other. I 2. In a draft rigging including slotted elements, a key passing through the slots for connecting the elements formed with an offset intermediate portion. engageable withthe side of the slot in one element for shifting the position thereof with respect to the other element, the key beingformed of a plurality of detachably connected sections.

Ina draft rigging including a slotted coupler shank and slotted yoke, a key passing through the slots for connecting the position of the coupler.

shank and yoke formed with an offset intermediate portion for advancing the coupler with respect to the yoke, the key being formed of a plurality of detachably connect-ed sections having interlockingcmeans.

4. In a draft rigging including cheek plates, a yoke and a coupler, all provided with slots, a draft key extending through the slots and having means engaging within the slot in the coupler shank for advancing the 5. In a draft rigging including cheek plates, a yoke and a coupler. all formed with slots, the combination of a draft key extendin through the slots and having a forwardly onset intermediate portion engaging within the slot in thecoupler shank for advancing the coupler.

(5. In a draft rigging including cheek plates, a yoke and a coupler, all formed with slots, the combination of a draft key extending. through the slots and having a forwardl offset intermediate portion engaging within the slot in the coupler shank for advancing the coupler, the width of the key at said offset portion corresponding to its width at the end portions.

7. In a draft rigging including cheek plates, a yoke and a coupler, all formed with slots, the combination of a draft key extending through the slots and having a forwardly o'fi'setintermediate portion engaging within the slot in the coupler shank for advancing the coupler, the width of the key at S&ld' OfIS8t portion corresponding, to its width at theend portions and according with standard equipment. I

8. In a draft rigging including cheek plates, a yoke and a coupler, all formedwith slots, the combination of a draftkey extending through the slots and having a forwardly offset intermediate portion engaging within theslotin the coupler shank for advancing the coupler, the width of the key at said offset portion corresponding to its width. at

the end portions, the key including a plurality "of sections detachably connected, means on the key cooperating with the cheek plates for preventing longitudinal movement of the key.

9. In a draft rigging including cheek plates, a yoke and a coupler, all formed with slots, the combination of a draft key extend- ,ing through the slots and having a for wardly offset intermediate portionengaging within the slot in the coupler shank for advancing the coupler, the width of the keyat said offset portion corresponding to its width at the end portions, the key including aplurahty of sections detachably connected, means on the key cooperating with the cheek plates for preventing longitudinal movement of the key, and means for locking the sections together.

10. In a draft rigging including checkltll) plates, a yoke and a coupler, all formed with I slots, the'combination ofa draft key extending through theslots and having a forwardly offset intermediate portion engaging within the slot in the coupler shank for ad vancing the coupler, the key including forward and rear sections formed respectively withan extension and a depressed portion.

11. In adraftrigging 1ncluding cheek plates, a yoke and a coupler, all formed with 1' slots, the combination of a draft key extending through the slots and having a forwardly offset intermediate portion engaging within the slot in the coupler shank for advancing the coupler, the key including forward and rear sections formed respectively with an extension and a depressed portion,

and an intermediate section disposed betweenthe forward and rear sections and detachably connected therewith.

12. In a draft rigging including cheek plates, a yoke and a coupler, all formed with slots, the combination of a draft key extend ing through the slots and having aforwardly offset intermediate portion engaging within the slot in the coupler shank for advancing the coupler, the key including forward and rear sections formed respectively with an extension and a recess, an intermediate section disposed between the forward sections bled key.

with an extension and a recess, an intermediate section disposed between the forward and rear sections, means embracing the sections. for preventing relative lateral move ment tli01'0if,tti1(l means engaging the sections for preventing relative longitudinal movement thereof. I

14,-. In a draft rigging including check plates, a yoke and a coupler, all formed with slots, the combination of a draft key extendi through the slots and having a forwardly o setintermediate portion engaging within the slot in the coupler shank for advancing the coupler, the key including outer sections and-an intermediate section, means embracing the assembled sections forpreventing relative lateral movement thereof and longitudinal displacement of the assem In a draft rigging including cheek plates, a yoke and a coupler, all formed with slots, the combination of a draft key extending through the slots and having a forwardly offset intermediate portion engaging within theslot in the coupler shank for advancing the-coupler, the key lncludlng outer "sections and an intermediate section, means embracing the assembled sections for preventing relative lateral movement thereof and longitudinal displacement of theassembledkey, said means being formed as a col-' 1:11, the outer sections having their ,outer edges grooved for the accommodation of the collar.

16. In a draft rigging including cheek plates, a yoke and a coupler, all formed with slots,.the combination of. a draft key extending through the slots and having a forwardly offset intermediate portion engaging within the slot in the coupler shank for advancing the coupler, the key including outer sections and an intermediate section, means for preventing relative lateral movement of the sections, the confronting faces of the sections being formed with mating notches, and

securing elements. passing through the notches for preventing relative longitudinal movement of the sections. v I

17. Means for connecting a horizontal yoke with the coupler of a draft rigging, the coupler shank and yoke being formed with slots, comprising akey provided intermediate its ends with a forwardly extending pro jection engageable with the forward end of the slot in the coupler shank foradvancing the coupler with respect to the yoke. 7

18. In combination with 'a coupler shank and yoke, both formed with slots, a connecting key extending through the slots and pro vided intermediate its ends with means cooperatingwith the slot in the coupler shank for advancingthe same withrespect to the yoke.

In testimony whereof I aitix my signature,

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